Bonhams sells a million pounds’ worth of vintage bikes

Bonhamsâ€™ Pamplona Motorcycle Collection sale was held on Saturday, February 27, at the RAF Museum, Hendon. Consisting mainly of motorcycles manufactured before 1950, the Collection had been assembled over the past few years for the enjoyment of the ownerâ€™s friends and family, and was housed at various locations before transferring to a purpose-built museum home 12 months ago.

By the time the hammer fell on the final lot, 88 percent of the 109 machines offered had been sold for a premium-inclusive total of Â£1,033,855. The Collectionâ€™s best result was achieved by an American motorcycle, the restored 1929 Cleveland Tornado four-cylinder, which sold for a premium-inclusive Â£48,800 against a top estimate of Â£40,000.

Four-cylinder motorcycles were one of the Collectionâ€™s themes. Two Hendersons dating from 1920 and 1931, sold for Â£29,325 and Â£36,150 respectively. Other â€œfoursâ€ featuring strongly included a 1911 FN solo (Â£22,425), 1928 Indian Ace (Â£29,900), 1926 FN combination (Â£24,725) and 1936 Indian “upside down” Model 436 (Â£31,050).

American-built V-twins showed strongly, too: The 1926 Harley-Davidson Model J racer with overhead-valve conversion sold for Â£29,900, 1917 Indian Powerplus combination for Â£25,300 and 1930 Excelsior Super X for Â£22,425. The top-performing British motorcycle was the modified circa 1954 Vincent Rapide Series C V-twin, which sold for Â£29,900 against a top estimate of Â£22,000, confirming the continuing strong demand for these classic Fifties road burners.

Star performer among the Collectionâ€™s many Veteran-era (pre-1915) machines was the circa 1899/1900 Phebus tricycle, eligible for both the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run and the Sunbeam MCC Pioneer Run by virtue of its three wheels, which fetched Â£29,325. Other notable Veterans included the 1913 Matchless Model 7B combination, which sold for Â£21,850 and circa 1904 Laurin & Klement Slavia, which found a new home for Â£20,700. Without question, the most bizarre machine on offer, the 1937 BÃ¶hmerland Langtouren three-seater, sold for an on-estimate Â£36,150.

(This post originally appeared in the March 4, 2010, issue of the Hemmings eWeekly Newsletter.)